Horse-detacher.



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(Appnmion mea .rm 1d, 1999.)

(Nu Model.)

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UNITEDA- STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

.SAMUEL ALFRED HAINES, OF GARRETT, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF-ONE-HALF I TO T. H. CAMPBELL, OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Bateau No. 629,962, dated August y1, 1899.

' Appunti@ Flea January 1o. 1899.' serial No. 701,746. (No mais.)

Tn @ZL whom) it may con/cern.:

Be itknown that LSAMUEL ALFRED HAINESQ and to provide simple, inexpensive, and efli-` cient means for readily releasing the traces from a whiffletree; to free an animal to prevent a vehicle or its occupants from being injured in the event of a runaway, and also to facilitate bitching and unhitching.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.l

^ In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a whiffletree provided with a device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one end of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view ill ust-rating the manner of adj ustably securing the sleeve to the shaft. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the cams. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one end of a Whiffletree, illustrating a modification ofthe invention. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same, illustrating the arrangement of the cam. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the longitudinal shaft, illustrating a modifi cation of the invention. Fig.v 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the dravings.

1 designates a whiffletree provided at its ends with sleeves or ferrules 2, having inner and outer ears or lianges 3 and 4, arranged in pairs and forming recesses for the reception of a pair of traces which are adapted to be clamped by a pair of cams 5, also operatingin the recesses or spaces between the ears or anges 3 and 4. The cams 5, which are -to hold the cam firmly in engagement with ,engagement with the traces'.

-mounted on a longitudinal shaft (i, are substantially segmental and taper in thickness to provide trace-engaging outer faces 7', arranged at an angle tothe outer ear or flange 4 and adapted when rotated to clamp or re- 5 5 lease the traces, according to the direction of rotation. These cams, which are pivoted near their tops, swing forward in engaging a trace, whereby the strain on the traces will operate them.

The shaft 6, which is rotated by an arm S, has it ends 9 reduced and journaled inperforations of the 'inner ears oranges 3, and it extends from one end of the whifletree to the other in order that both cams may be simultaneously operated to release the traces instantly in event of a runaway, and thereby avoid damage to a vehicle or injury to its oc- 8, which engages the shaft, whereby the sleeve 7 5v is clamped at any desired point on the shaft. The arm 8 extends rearward and downward when the cams are in engagement with the traces, and it has an eye 12 at its outer end, designed to be attached to any suitable connection for enabling the 'shaft' to be rotated from the interior of a vehicle. By swinging the arm upward the cams are carried out of In order to enable the earns to be adjusted for operating properly' on traces of different thicknesses, they are adjustably mounted on the reduced ends of the shaft by means of setscrews 13, and the shoulders 14, formed by reducing the ends of the shaft, are spaced 9o from theiuner earsV or `flanges 3a sufcient distance to permit a slight play of the shaft to equalize the pressure on the traces.

Instead of arranging the cams as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings they may be ar-` 9 ,ranged as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 for clamping the traces between their peripheries and the bottom of the spaces between the inner and outer earsor Bauges. The cam 15 is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 16, which I is journaled in bearing-openings of both the inner and outer ears, and by rotating the shaft the peripheral cam-faces are carried into and out of engagement with the traces.

The longitudinal shaft may be composed of two sections 6, connected at their inner adjacent ends by asleeve 11b and capable of independent rotary movement in order to enable the cams to be operated independently to permit the traces to be fastened or released successively. The'sleeve lll is provided at its ends with segmental recesses 11C, receiving pins or projections 6", extending from the inner portions of the sections of the longitudinal shaft, and when the sleeve 1lb is rotated by the arm Sia the shoulders at the rear sides of the recesses 11c will engage the pins or projections 6b and rotate the sections of the shaft simultaneously to release the traces. This construction permits the traces to be released instantly in event of a runaway, and at the same time it permits them to be fastened to the ends of the singletree independently of each other to facilitate hitching and unhitching a horse.

The harness of a horse is connected with a vehicle by means of the traces and the holdbackstraps, which are designed to abut `against any suitable form of stops on the shafts', so that when the traces are released the holdback-straps will slide freely off the front portions of the said shafts, whereby an animal Will be completely freed from a vehicle.

The invention has the following advantages: 'lhe horse-detacher, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable and positive and reliable in operation, and it is capable of simultaneously releasing the traces and of freeing an animal instantly to avoid injury to the occupants of a vehicle and damage to the latter in event of a runaway. The device is also adapted to facilitate bitching and unhitching a horse. The arm which operates the shaft may be arranged at any point on the same, and the cams are capable of adjustment for operating on traces of dierent thicknesses. The cams may be operated independently when the shaft is constructed of sections, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, and the sectional shaft may also be operated to oscillate the cams and release the traces simultaneously.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Vhat is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a whiffietree provided at its ends with inner and outer ears forming between them trace-receiving spaces which are closed at one side, a longitudinal shaft journaled in suitable bearings of the ears and extending from one end of the whiflietree to the other, cams mounted on the ends of the shaft in a vertical position to coperate with the closed Wall of the trace-receiving spaces and adapted to be carried by the rotation of the shaft simultaneously into and out of engagement with the traces, the ears at the ends of the whiffletree serving to keep the traces from moving laterally, substantially as described.

2. Adevice of the class described comprising a Whifetree adapted to receive the traces, a longitudinal shaft journaled in suitable bearings of the whiffletree, and a pair of simultaneously-operatingcams mounted on the ends of the shaft and provided at their side faces With engaging portions arranged to clamp and hold the traces, said cams being fastened to the shaft by set-screws which allow for their adjustment in the arc of a circle, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a Whiffletree, a shaft extending longitudinally of the Whiftletree and composed of two sections, devices arranged at the outer ends of the sections for engaging the traces, a sleeve connecting the inner ends of the sections and arranged to rotate the same simultaneously in one direction, said sections having a limited movement independentof the sleeve, and means for operating the sleeve, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a Whiiiietree, a shaft extending longitudinally thereof, and provided with devices for engaging the traces, said shaft being composed of `sections provided near their inner ends with projections, a sleeve connecting the inner ends of the sections and provided at its ends with recesses receiving the said projections and limiting the independent rotation of the sections, and means for operating the sleeve, whereby the sections are rotated simultaneously, substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL vALFRED HAINES.

Witnesses:

J AKE ToLLEsoN, J. W. EVANS.

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